Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive Volume 7595a  |
ERB 100-Word Drabbles
DECEMBER IV Edition :: Days 16-31
by Robert Allen Lupton
See Days 1-15 at ERBzine 7595
With Collations, Web Page Layout and ERBzine Illustrations and References by Bill Hillman
TYPECAST AS A SCARLET WOMAN
December 16: On this day in 1960, actress Anan Luther passed away at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills California. She was 63. During her silent movie career she appeared in “The Island of Desire,” “Why Women Sin,” “The Truth About Wives,” “Sinners in Silk,” and “The Woman Who Believed.” Seeing a theme here. She continued to work in pictures until the 1950’s and her 48 film credits include, ‘Prince Valiant.” Her work after 1935 was largely uncredited.
She was the female lead, Jane, in the 1915 film, “The Isle of Content,” which ERB claimed was based on his novel “The Cave Girl.” He didn’t get paid, but if true, “The Isle of Content” was the first ERB film. In a matter of speaking, this would make Anna Luther the first actress to play “Jane.”
Read about Anna and the lost film, ‘Isle of Content,” at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag23/2380.html
The drabble for today is “Typecast as a Scarlet Woman,” and it was inspired by the roles that Anna Luther played in silent films. A nod of acknowledgement to “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”During the filming of ‘Isle of Content,” Vivian Reed questioned her cast mate. TYPECAST AS A SCARLET WOMAN
“Anna, you seem like a sweetheart, but you’re always playing women of questionable behavior. Why is that?”“Not sure, but it’s just a job, but it means I’ll always have work. Men love a fallen woman and women enjoy pointing fingers at her.”
“I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”
“Vivian, dearie, you made three of those OZ films. Time to make grown up pictures. You’re not in Kansas anymore.”“But, Anna, you’re always such a bad woman on screen.”
“I’m not bad, I’m just cast that way.”
ALWAYS LEAVE 'EM WANTING MORE
December 17: On this day in 1932, Argosy Magazine published a letter from reader, Gerhardt Krull. Mr. Krull had finished reading the last installment of “The Pirates of Venus” and he was an unhappy man. ‘Pirates had been serialized in Argosy from September 17th through October 22, 1932. While, Mr. Krull was frustrated, his letter proved that Edgar Rice Burroughs was a master of leaving the reader on the edge of his seat, a technique quite common in the film serials of the day. If you give folks everything they want, they don’t have a reason to come back.
The issue’s cover was by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ illustrator Paul Stahr and was for an apocalyptic novel by a man named Erle Stanley Gardner. You may have heard of him.
Read details about “Pirates of Venus” at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0748.html
Mr. Krull’s letter is the drabble for today, “Always Leave ‘Em Wanting More,” is the bulk of his letter of December 17. 1932, edited to be a 100 word drabble."I’ve reading Argosy for years and I’ll continue to do so. However, I will say if Burroughs writes another novel and ends it like 'The Pirates of Venus,' one of his supporters will lose some degree of faith. I’ve read every story he’s written. ALWAYS LEAVE 'EM WANTING MORE
"Whether it’s his fault or yours, I, don't know. It’s probably to your advanDEARtage to have a sequel at some future date, but what are we to do in the meantime? Sit and gnaw our fingernails? I was utterly dumfounded when I came to the end. Please let us all know when to expect a sequel."
DEAR, MR. CHURCHILL
December 18: On this day in 1941, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a short story, “From A Devonshire Lass.” The story remains unpublished, and I have no information concerning the subject matter or the length, Bill Hillman refers to it as a humorous story https://www.erbzine.com/mag2/0219.html Love to see it in print.
Devonshire is the historic name of Devon, a county in Southwest England. The two largest towns are Plymouth and Exeter. The area is known for farming and ranching, along with tourist trade at the beach. Historically the area was known mining tin and copper. The Cornwall and West Devon Landscape is a World Heritage Site.
Devonshire is famous for its clotted cream. A Devonshire last would be presumed to spend some time as a milkmaid and more time producing butter and clotted cream.
The 100 word drabble for today, “Dear, Mr. Churchill,” is a letter from a Devonshire lass and it can’t imagine that it bears any resemblance to ERB’s unpublished short story.Dear Mr. Churchill; DEAR, MR. CHURCHILL
The German bombings and air raid sirens have frightened my cattle half to death. They’re off their feed and have stopped giving milk. Without milk, we can’t make butter, nor can we make clotted cream. What’s toast without butter or an afternoon scone with no clotted cream? I wish you’d contact your predecessor, Mr. Chamberlain, and have that appeaser tell his mate, Adolf, to drop those bombs on Bonn or Berlin or some such place. Otherwise, Mr. Chamberlain and everyone else will be having their scones served dry with their afternoon tea.Your obedient servant,
Alice Nevers
WHO HASN'T DREAMED
December 19: On this day in 1913, John Roy Flint, the author of “A Guide to Barsoom,” was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. John was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer for 34 years. He and his wife were constant attendees at ERB gatherings for years.
I met him twice and the second time, he autographed my copy of “A Guide to Barsoom."
John is on the right in the photo attached. The man of the left is Camille (Caz) Cazedessus, the founder and publisher of ERBdom and Pulpdom.
He loved to tell the story about being raised by an uncle and when he was old enough to go out on his own, the uncle gave him an itemized bill for the costs associated with raising him. He told me, “Took me over thirty years, but I paid him every dime.”
Visit https://www.erbzine.com/mag14/1428.html for more information about this charming man.
Of special note is a 1983 poem by John Roy Flint, “Who Hasn’t Dreamed.” The poem is available at https://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2858.html#dreamed I’ve reproduced here as today’s 100 word drabble, even though it’s only 99 words long. Enjoy.Happy Birthday, John. May your thoat be fast, your sword be sharp, and your travels be magical. WHO HASN'T DREAMED
“Who hasn't dreamed, and in his dream
Has heard the apes of Kerchak scream,
Or danced the Dum-Dum in the night
Beneath the jungle's bright moonlight?
Who hasn't hurtled through the trees
And brought swift Bara to his knees?
You are that smooth-skinned demigod,
That phantom of the jungle broad.
And now you doze on Tantor's back,
While ebon warriors plan attack.
Nkima comes to warn his friend
Of ambush hid around the bend.
But Tantor bolts beneath a limb;
Half-stunned, you're locked in battle grim,
Captured, and tortured at the stake.
Then Numa roars - and you awake.
INALIENABLE RIGHTS
December 20: On this day in 1926, Popular Magazine rejected “Apache Devil” by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Unlike most westerns of the day, Apache Devil was sympathetic to the Native American point of view. Burroughs had firsthand experience with the American Southwest and the conflicts between the Apache and the US Cavalry, having been stationed at Fort Grant in Wilcox, Arizona.
Apache Devil was later accepted and serialized by Argosy All-Story Weekly from May 19, 1928 through June 23, 1928. The cover for the first issue was Paul Stahr. ERB Inc. published the first edition in 1933. The cover is one of my favorites and it was by ERB’s nephew, Studley Oldham Burroughs.
Details about the book abound at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0775.html
The drabble for today, “Inalienable Rights,” was inspired by Burroughs respect and treatment of Native Americans in his novels and the understanding that history is written by the victors.The private said, “Captain, I’m not sure why we’re fighting the Apache. Why call Shoz-Dijiji, their leader, a devil.” INALIENABLE RIGHTS
“We fight because they won’t live where and how we tell them.
“Sounds like the same things John Adams said a hundred years ago. The War Chief is just a man, not a devil.”“History decides, private. If he wins, he’s a hero. If he loses, he’s a murdering savage.”
“That don’t seem fair.”
“We got the same deal. We’re either protectors or oppressors.”
“I just want to go home to Chicago.”
“Son, I imagine the Apache want the same thing!
GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION
December 21: On this day renowned and prolific pulp cover artist, Hubert Rogers was born in Alberta, Canada. Rogers was the premier cover artist for Astounding Science Fiction from 1930 through 1953. Among his hundreds of cover paintings, Rogers did the Argosy Weekly cover illustration for “Tarzan and the Magic Men,” published on September 19, 1936.
Rogers spent some time in New Mexico. He joined an artist’s commune in Taos in 1931.
Details about the artist, his life, and several illustrations are at: https://www.pulpartists.com/Rogers.html and information about “Tarzan and the Magic Men’ at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0728.html
The drabble for today, “Guilty by Association,” was written by Robert E. Heinlein. It concerned the selection of a cover artist for his novel “Rocket Ship Galileo.”A Scribner's editor asked me to suggest an artist for Rocket Ship Galileo. I suggested Hubert Rogers, She wrote me that Mr. Rogers' was 'too closely associated with a ‘cheap magazine,' meaning Astounding Science Fiction. To prove her point she sent me tear sheets from the magazine. It happened the story she picked to send was one of mine! I chuckled and said nothing. I wondered if she knew my reputation had been gained in that same 'cheap' magazine. I concluded that she probably didn’t know and might not be willing to publish my stuff in Scribner's had she known." GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION
ONLY THE BEST
December 22: Happy Birthday to Jim Sullos at ERB Inc. On this day in 1944, the “Brainerd” Daily Dispatch, a newspaper, published an article by the world’s oldest war correspondent, Edgar Rice Burroughs. “Hospital Care of Casualties in Pacific Are Unexcelled.” The newspaper in Brainerd, Minnesota is still in business.
Burroughs wrote the article many months earlier on February 3. I guess the news didn’t travel very fast to the middle of Minnesota in those days.
The entire article is available online at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag17/1757.html
The drabble for today, ‘Only the Best” is 100 words taken from that article, which was distributed through the United Press.This isn't a story of "bombs bursting in air," or high heroism. It’s a report to the families whose men are casualties in Army and Navy hospitals. If a casualty lives long enough to reach the Medical Corps his survival chances are nearly 100%. If you’ve men in the military hospitals, thank God they’re not at home, for they couldn’t get better medical service there or anywhere else in the world. Don’t worry about them. The nurses, corpsmen, Red Cross girls, and the Gray Ladies look after their every comfort. The physicians and surgeons are the best in the world. ONLY THE BEST
LIMITED MENU
December 23: On this day in 1933, Liberty Magazine published the seventh of nine installments of “Tarzan and the Lion Man.” Like each episode, there were two interior color-tinted interior illustrations credited to Ray Dean, a pseudonym for Burroughs cover artist Stockton Mulford. The cover illustration was by Leslie Thrasher and it was for an article by Homer S. Cummings, the U. S. Attorney General, titled ‘How You Can Prevent Crime.” Read the full bio on Stockton Mulford in ERBzine's ERB Art Encyclopedia at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1013.html
While the Great Depression was in full swing, Stockton Mulford was able to supplement his income by producing additional illustrations under the pen-name "Ray Dean." This work was published through an art agency with Adventure Magazine, Star Western, and most memorably, Liberty Magazine, where "Ray Dean" illustrated serialized chapters of "Tarzan And The Lion Man" by Edgar Rice Burroughs. https://www.erbzine.com/mag2/0228.html Enjoy Ray Deans Liberty illustrations at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0726a.html
Stockton Mulford worked at the peak of his abilities during these years, so he also produced an impressive body of work under the pen-name "Ray Dean."
The 100 word drabble for today, “LIMITED MENU,” was inspired by “Tarzan and the Lion Man” by Edgar Rice Burroughs. https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0726.htmlRugula, the chief of the cannibal tribe, Bansutos, was preparing stew. Rhoda Terry and Bill West, two members of a film crew were tied nearby. LIMITED MENU
Rugula tossed in wild onions. The pot simmered. He quartered yams and dumped them into the boiling water.
Rhoda said, “You’re going cook and eat us, aren’t you?”
Rugula sampled the broth. “Yes. Stay calm. Anger toughens the meat.”
She gasped. “What kind of man are you?”
The chief continued mixing the vegetables with a large wooden paddle. “The kind of man who knows it’s better to stir up trouble than to be in it.”
VOICE AND VISION
December 24: Christmas Eve and on this day in 1931, actor Robert Ridgely, who voiced Tarzan in the animated television series. “Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle” was born in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Ridgely was prolific and his credits include in “Blazing Saddles,” “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Robin Hood, Men in Tights,” “Designing Women,” “WKRP in Cincinnati,” “The Gallant Men,” “Maverick,” and “Night Court.” His voice work was extensive and included not only “Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle,” but “Tarzan and the Super 7,” ”Thundarr the Barbarian,” “The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor,” “Dorothy in the Land of OZ,” and “The Incredible Hulk.” IMDB lists a total of 150 credits, but bear in mind that he voiced Tarzan for 36 episodes of “Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle” and that’s listed as only one credit. https://www.erbzine.com/mag27/2799.html
The 100 drabble for today is “Voice and Vision,” and was inspired by Ridgely’s career. It pokes a little fun at a self-effacing actor of remarkable talent. For shame if you miss the hangman reference, although it could be a tribute to a Steve Goodman song recorded by David Allan Coe.“Mr. Ridgely, you’ve played several roles on screen and voiced even more. What was your favorite?” VOICE AND VISION
“I sang “There’s nothing so clean as my burger machine” for McDonald’s. Nobody lets me sing anymore.”
Your range is incredible. You’ve played slovenly characters and fantastic heroes.”
“Yes, it’s a blessing and a curse. I look like Boris, but sound like Tarzan or Flash Gordon.”
“Blessing and a curse?”
“Sure, I can get all the dates I want by telephone, but they don’t hang around for a second date. I’m so ugly I could walk through a haunted house and get a paycheck.”
TRADITIONS
December 25: Merry Christmas -- On this day in 1880, artist Lawrence Jesse Herndon was born in Carey Ohio. Lawrence was a prolific pulp cover illustrator and among others he did several covers for Blue Book Magazine including six covers for the serialization of “Tarzan, Guard of the Jungle,” aka “Tarzan the Invincible. He also did covers for “A Fighting Man of Mars” and “The Land of Hidden Men.” (Book Title: Jungle Girl)
In 1910, he moved to New York City and he sold illustrations to slick magazines, such as Cosmopolitan and Everybody's. From 1918 until 1938 he painted pulp magazine covers for Argosy, Blue Book, Complete Stories, Over The Top, Sea Stories, The Popular, Top-Notch, War Birds, and Western Story. Herndon bio in ERBzine's ERB Artist Encyclopedia
He tried to enlist in WW1 and again in WW2, but was too old for service during both wars. He operated an art school for several years.
The drabble for today, “Traditions,” was inspired by Herndon’s work and the season.Lawrence Herndon evaluated one of his art student’s work. “What’s this supposed to be, a Christmas painting?” TRADITIONS
“Yes, I included a new reindeer with a bright red nose and a snowman who sings and dances.”
“Your work is competent, but Christmas is traditional. I don’t think folks are ready to see it changed."
“I think Christmas is ready for some new characters. You made a lot of money drawing that jungle lord and the man from Mars.”“Yes, I did. But I didn’t paint Tarzan with a red nose or John Carter with a corncob pipe and a top hat.”
LETTER TO AN ABSENT FRIEND
December 26: Boxing Day in much of the world and on this day in 1959, the last issue of Tarzan Adventures was published in the United Kingdom. https://www.erbzine.com/comics/uk9a.html
Donald F. Peters, Ltd began reprinting American Tarzan comic strips in 1950 as “Tarzan Monthly. Westworld Adventures, a robotic publisher took over about 1952 and changed the title twice, first to “Tarzan: The Grand Adventure Comic” and then to “Tarzan Adventures. Westworld even established the “Westworld Tarzan Club.”
Read about the series and see most of the covers starting at: https://www.erbzine.com/comics/uk1.html
The drabble for today, “Letter to an Absent Friend,” features my old friend and Burroughs aficionados from New Orleans, Pat and John. Enjoy.John said, “What are you working on, Pat?” LETTER TO AN ABSENT FRIEND
“I’m writing a report about Mark Twain. He’s one of the most famous American writers. He even had an award named after him.”“I’m not illiterate. I’ve read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.”
Pat replied. “Twain wrote more than that. He wrote “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc,” “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, “The Celebrated Jumping
Frog of Calaveras County,” and “Tarzan, the Lord of the Jungle.”“No, he didn’t,” shouted John. “Twain didn’t write Tarzan!”
“If Twain didn’t write Tarzan, who did?”
“All of his friends who missed him.”
MONOPOLY MONEY
December 27: On this day in 1943, the world’s oldest war correspondent, Edgar Rice Burroughs was in Australia. According to his journal entry in his “Dairy of a Confused Old Man,” ERB decided to see Sydney that Sunday morning. He visited Manly Pool, a theme park at the beach where the giant swimming area was surrounded by iron bars to protect swimmers form sharks. Burroughs made the observation, “Wicked looking devils. Regardless of what people say, they eat people!”
A reproduction of the actual journal page and a legible transcription may be read in its entirety at https://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6813.html
The 100 word drabble for today is ‘Monopoly Money,” written by ERB and taken from the December 27, 1942 entry in ‘Diary of a Confused Old Man.”“After visiting Manly Pool, I boarded a tram and came into town over the great bridge that is the pride of Sydney. The whole trip cost me 28 cents US money. MONOPOLY MONEY
“Later on I stopped at Sam's room, Ham was with him. We three played poker again for about an hour this afternoon. I couldn't get used to the fact that Australian paper money had any value. It was like stage money to me, and I tossed it around recklessly. Pretty soon I had won so much that they wouldn't play with me anymore. They never played with me again.”
ROYAL RELATIONS
December 28: On this day in 1918, All-Story Weekly published the third and concluding installment of “H. R. H. The Rider,” a novel of European intrigue. The issue’s cover illustrated the novel, “The Crimson Alibi” by Octavus Roy Coen, who wrote numerous pulp stories. He was best known for his stories published in the Saturday Evening Post.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavus_Roy_Cohen
Publishing details about “H.R.H. The Rider,” several illustrations, and the text of the entire novel are located at https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0764.html
The drabble for today, “Royal Relations,” was inspired by the “H.R.H. The Rider” and the familial relationships between kings, queens, princes, princesses, and even the odd royal brother or sister which were prevalent.“Father,” said prince Boris. I don’t want to marry Princess Mary of Margoth. Her country’s always been our enemy.” ROYAL RELATIONS
“Not always,” said King Constans. ‘She’s your second cousin.
Trouble started when her grandfather married your great aunt. My mother got caught in the cloakroom with the groom and it’s been war ever since.”“I’d prefer not to marry a relative.”
“Son, you’re related in some fashion to every princess on the continent.”
“That sounds terribly inbred?”
“Sometimes, it’s worse than that. King Petrova is your second cousin, your uncle, and your grandfather. Best to keep things all in the family.”
HOLD THE MUSHROOMS
December 29: On this day in 1935, Edgar Rice Burroughs put the finishing touches on his novel, “Dancing Girl of the Leper King,” better known as “Jungle Girl.” The novel was serialized in Blue Book Magazine from May through September 1931 under the title “The Land of Hidden Men,” a title also used by Ace Books for its paperback editions in the 1960s.
The fifteen chapter film serial, “Jungle Girl,” which starred Frances Gifford bears little resemblance to the novel.
An Etext version of the novel, the publishing history, and several illustrations are located at https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0776.html
The drabble for today, “Hold the Mushrooms,” was inspired by the novel “Jungle Girl.” It’s the kind of drabble that makes me want to apologize in advance.Gordon King, an adventurer, encountered Fou-tan, a beautiful dancing girl, who was fleeing the leprous king, Bharata Rahon, who lusted after her. HOLD THE MUSHROOMS
Eventually, they were captured and taken before Rahon, who planned to execute Gordon and mate with Fou-tan before his parts fell off.
Gordon said, “You don’t have leprosy. You’re allergic to those spotted mushrooms.”
Rahon replied, “Only I eat the royal mushrooms.”
“Stop eating them and your flesh will heal!”
Rahon’s rash cleared up. “I thought you were joking.”
“I never joke. I’m not a fun guy. You were eating mushrooms and I knew you were in truffle.”
TUNE IN TASMANIA
December 30: On this day in 1957, New Zealand actor, Lloyd Berrell died. Berrell worked extensively in Australian radio and was the second actor to voice Tarzan down under. He took over after Rod Taylor (The Time Machine) moved to America. Berrell also played Tom Corbett Space Cadet on Aussie radio. He appeared on the big screen in “Long John Silver’s Return to Treasure Island” and “King of the Coral Sea.”
In 1957, Berrell decided to move to London and set sail with wife, Betty, on board the French ship, Caledonian. Tragically he died at sea at age 31. A spokesman for the ship's operators said that Berrell died during a flu epidemic that broke out on board the Caledonian after it left the West Indies.
For more details about Tarzan on Australian radio, read my article, “Tarzan Down Under” at https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6749.html
The drabble for today is “Tune In Tasmania,” and it was inspired by Lloyd’s radio career.”Betty, Lloyd Berell’s wife, asked, “I think English filmmakers will be impressed with your radio career, after all, you played Tarzan.” TUNE IN TASMANIA
“Maybe. I’ve done radio since I was eleven. I’ve played everyone. I’ve been Peter Pan, Tom Corbett, Count Dracula and Tom Sawyer. I just hope they don’t blame me because Aussies view copyright entitlements as more of a suggestion than a law.”
“Are actors punished for copyright violations on Australian radio?”
“Yes, if found guilty they’re forced into another remake of “Jane Eyre.” I hated Rochester. Man should’ve had the decency to die like the rest of the men.”
BEYOND RARE
December 31: New Year’s Eve -- On this day in 1915, magazine publisher Street and Smith copyrighted Edgar Rice Burroughs’s story, “Beyond Thirty.” The cover illustration on the February 1916 issue of All-Around Magazine had nothing to do with “Beyond Thirty,” instead illustrating “The Lost Vein” by Edwin Bliss. Burroughs is mentioned on the cover.
The blurb reads, “Book Length Novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs Author of “The Return of Tarzan.”
The issue contained stories by Octavus Roy Cohen and William Hop Hodgson.
For the publishing history and numerous illustrations of “Beyond Thirty” aka “The Lost Continent,” visit https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0763.html
The ERBzine site also includes an EText version of the novel.
The drabble for today is “Beyond Rare,” and it is 100 words taken from an article by Kevin Cook. The complete article is located at the ERBzine site listed above.Edgar Rice Burroughs literally signed hundreds of books during his lifetime, but apparently only signed three pulp magazines. For Forrest Ackerman he signed the October 1912 issue of All-Story with ‘Tarzan of the Apes.’ For Vernell Coriell, he also signed another October 1912 issue of All-Story, but also signed the February 1916 issue of All-Around Magazine which contained his ‘Beyond Thirty.’ According to Coriell, ERB said “Mr. Coriell, I am so ashamed of my writing since I have been ill. I used to have a hand I was proud of.’ These are my last signatures, I shall never sign another.” BEYOND RARE
